Bureau of Justice Statistics: Domestic Violence Has Fallen for Last 20 Years (Chart Credit: BJS)

Domestic violence advocates aren’t too thrilled about the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ findings. They see a growing problem — a persistent gap in support for domestic violence survivors. Despite those rosy numbers from BJS, much more should be done for the survivors.

While the government started giving funds to law enforcement outreach and support for survivors through the Violence Against Women Act, as well as other programs, public awareness has led to victims being less likely to seek out support services.

She said the recession has had an impact on how many survivors seek help from the various services available to them. McLaughlin said “poverty is a co-conspirator of an abuser.” She added that federal funding for shelters and other services has remained flat throughout the recession and the result is a gap between requests for services and the ability to provide them.

VAWA’s reauthorization has been caught up in partisan gridlock over added provisions that would protect undocumented immigrants, as well as LGBT and Native American victims of domestic violence. Congress failed to reauthorize the bill by the end of 2012, and the Senate is now considering the same legislation again, in its new legislative session.